We’ve sat in on thinktanks and joined in roundtables, we’ve made and read submissions and we’ve seen the Financial Services Council’s (FSC’s) green paper ‘Affordable and Accessible Advice’, following on from its 2020 ‘Future of Advice’ report. Various industry groups have lobbied politicians of all persuasions and consulted with the regulators.
Research has provided us with valuable insights. We know that many consumers both need and want financial advice. We know that people who receive advice value both the advice and their advisers. More than 90% of our members want to stay in the business.
Industry research also tells us that people prefer to receive personal advice. Even the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has noted many consumers prefer to deal with an individual face-to-face. This allows consumers to build trust and rapport, rather than interacting with a cheaper, digital advice using an algorithm from a large corporate.